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"b***h," He snorted, limping to the mini fridge to look for an ice pack. Yeah, she was a real seductress that one. Sway your hips, telling stories of what could be, and then giving him nothing. What ever. There were other lassies on the island who had sences of humor he was sure.

Awen was floating lazily on her back in hte river. She had been practicing for the majority of the time she's been wake for her off island swim. She knew she told Rex and Avery she would do it very soon, she was starting to get self concious about the amount of time she was taking, but she had to be ready. She had to make sure she could swim all that way without something going wrong. She just needed a bit more practice.

But she was tired and relatively sore for the amount of hard swimming she had been doing, so she simply floated on her back kicking her feet slowly to propell her back towards the village. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

She hadn't gotten around to ordering a bathing suit yet, mainly because the intercom still hadn't had any responce. Awen instead wore the jeans-cut-to-shorts and green shirt she wore during the passed few months. She had washed it at least, and cut the ripped bottom of the shirt so Jamal's claw marks weren't there anymore. Needless to say that left....very little to the imagination at the moment.

Having successfully avoided Antony, Billy soon found the ocean give way to river, watching the sand change to dirt and rocks as he explored away from the beach. Stupid woman, spoiling his fun. Ah well, it was a large island. He hadn't gone far befor he spotted a girl swimming, and his mouth twisted into his usual grin. It was the girl he had met the other day. Brilliant. "HOY!" He called, "Don' drown, Lass!"

Happy to have a camera again, Joliette wandered into the jungle towards the river, camera strap over her neck, and pocketted vest holding lots of film and lenses. She was tweaking the dials pausing now and then to take a photo, and then she heard a voice and looked up, a new person, or least someone she'd never met, and most certainly not changed... Drown? she peered through her lens to the river.. Awen, nah she wouldn't drown.. She altered her path and headed towards where the pair were

She tilted her head from her spot on the river and she grinned a little bit. "No chance of that stranger! Gills and every thing." She hoped by now the guy had understood about the island. With all the progressed islanders around how could he not? At least he couldn't steal her water this time. No, this was her domain this place was all hers.

She didn't see Joli at all. From her position she could barely see the skeasy guy, let alone the quiet photographer.

"Gills, eh? So yer a fish?" He squatted on the bank, looking down at her with a mischeivious look. "Or a mermaid?" Hell, he'd let these people believe what ever they wanted to. At times like this, he often would believe he himself was changing. One night he was *convinced* he was turning into a lamp, afterall. It was only after the dishwashing detergant had worn off that they could have convinced him otherwise, and all they had been able to do to keep his fingers from any elecrtical outlet.

"She's turning into a manta ray" Joliette said quietly in her own thick accent as she came up behind the scruffy looking male "Hello Awen" she says pausing to one side of the male, she wondered just how long hte man had been on the isle. She set a dial on the new camera and observed them both.

Awen opened her mouth to answer, but blinked when the words came out in a thick british accent. That definately was not her voice. She let a grin slip to her lips as she saw Joli appear beside the strange man. "Yeah what she said manta ray and all." She swam over to the bank but stayed in the water, at least now she was standing on the ground under the water. "Hey Joliette."

"So you've come to terms with Moreau's experiments? That was fast of ya."

"Oooh, so it aint jes' yanks on th'island, eh?" He beamed at her, "I was startin' t'get scared," He turned his attentions towards the new comer. She was small and young... but then again, he liked them small and young and tender, didn't he? Although her complexion left a lot to be desired. Ah well, he was still having fun. He swaggered towards her, shifitng in and out of view in her lens.

Joliette snapped a photo and then lowered the camera "Glad to see you are well Awen" she replies with a smile and then looked towards the taller man "No there are others here besides 'yanks' as you put it" Her forked yellow tongue flicked as she finished her words, interesting swagger, it only made her curious what his story was, Lily's words had started her journalistic wheels turning and they'd yet to stop

Awen nodded up to Joli. "You too. I couldn't find you and Chubbs after you guys left camp that one time. I dunno I guess our group kind of failed. Glad you see you're alright though! Lauren's fine too...incase you're wondering."

She crossed her arms a little bit. "Hey, who are you calling a yank?" Assuming of course that meant yankee, which to her mean a citizine of the USA. "I'm Canadian, not American thank you very much." She stuck her tongue out at the two then chuckled a little bit. How childish.... But she didn't care she was in quite the good mood. Swimming did that for her these days.

"So th'two o' ye are friends, then?" Billy growled, pulling the camera out of Joli's hands to pull her closer by the strap, "Play t'gether, do ye?"

"I saw David a few days ago, he's good, and I'm glad to hear Lauren is too" She says to Awen sounding glad for the news just before he takes hold of her camera. "Oy! Let go" she said firmly in annoyance her hand taking hold of the wrist of the hand holding her new camera her eyes narrowed, she didn't like how he was pulling her

Awen frowned and immideately stepped from the water. "Hey let go of her." She didn't like this at all. What did he think he was doing to Joliette? And hey that was a new camera wasn't it... her old one hadn;t been in good shape last Awen heard.

So hastling her friend and damaging new equipment like that? Heck no! "What do ya think you're doing man?"

He chuckled harder at the game, pulling it off of her neck completely as he heald it up high, turning his back on her, "Wha' sor' o' camera is it? I've been known t'be a bi' o' a photographer meself, y'know! This is th'button tha' takes th'pictures, aye?" He jogged backward, snapping photos of her enraged expression.

Joliette's claws dragged roughly biting into the flesh of his wrist as his hand moved furhter away from her, Her expression is NOT impressed at all.. Words not in her frame of mind having ony just got that camera, his arms in the air to keep it out of her reach, he left himself open and she decided to take advantage of that. Situations like these were why her parents insisted she take martial arts right through to black. Angry, he aims her fist at his gut

Awen frowned this was not going good and she couldn't know what to do about it. If This guy took off she sure as heck couldn't keep up and....oh... never mind. Joliette seems to be able to take care of it as Awen has that partly scaled and clawed fist heading for his gut. Angry Jolieete would be scarey, even for a short thing like her. Angry Joliette with the vicious Awen-eating lizard look in her eye.... terrifying.

"This is not going to end well..." She mumbled under her breath.

She stepped a little bit away and moved around the man as Joliette had him there. She'd just hang back and..block the way to the village. If Joliette went too far, the manta would step in. But... she'd just stop the skease for now.

"Just give the camera back man" It was more for his own good she thought, than anything.

"Ach! Soddin' b***h!" He snarled, his wrist stinging as the force of the blow made the camera drop from his hands to the muddy, stoney bank with a heartwrenching crack and he staggered backward. "I was jes' playin'!"

"I do not take taking someone elses brand new property as playing when they told you to stop. I just got that camera if it's toast, I will be even angrier then I am now" she steps towards the camera and scoops up her equipment looking it over her tongue flicking angrily as she brushes the mud off

"Gormeless plonker!" she says angily when her eyes light upon the broken lens on the front of the camera. She looks at him the anger that can accompany the Komodo behind her eyes as she stares at him

Awen nodded a little bit at Joli's explaination of the film. She hoped it was fine, and it probably should be. It was odd though, to hear Joli explain the same thing Awen only months before Awen tried to hammer into the photographer's brain the hard way.

She looked to the man's wrist and frowned. "That looks nasty..... I have a first aid kit in my duplex... We could help fix that..."

"Bloody hell," He grunted, "She's go' some fingernails on' tha' gel!" He spat in Joli's direction rudely, grimacing as he felt the blood get sticky under his hand, "Fine, fine, lead away, lass."

"Claws, not nails, I'm being turned into a Komodo Dragon, these are just the first stage" she wiggles her fingers towards him and then looks at Awen, she said we, Joli intended to follow

"Eh..heh right then." She smile and put a hand on the greasy man's arm to turn him toward the village. "Um.... good to just keep pressure on it. It doesn't look..er..too bad." She glanced back over her shoulder to make sure Joli would come too. This guy was hurt sure, but he still creeped Awen out terribly.

"I don't know your name yet either. I'm Awen Zyn, that back there is Joliette."

"William. Friends call me Billy," He answered gruffly, "Well, Miss *Joliette*," The name sounded peculiar strained in his brogue, "Aught t'keep a better handle on her temper. Or someone'll get hurt." At that, he gave a sharp laugh.

"Three people have gotten hurt by me, and all of them for doing something against me, I can, and will defend myself, I may be short... but I'm not helpless" she says following closely behing Awen, she wasn't liking hte idea of leaving Awen alone with him in Awen's unit, so she was glad Awen seemed to want her to follow

The shower felt good, but now Rex's stomach moaned and groaned for food. Changing ruthlessly took alot out of you. So Rex made the journey to the cafeteria that morning, his mind and mouth drooling for some breakfast.

Rex went to the bar and absently got a rare steak when it hit him. So that's why I've been eating so much meat. He shook his head and sat his plate down at a free table, then went to get his silverware and condements. He really had been doomed here from the start.

After a nice hot shower that morning, Avery decided to go get some breakfast and see if he could find any of the friends he had made on the island so far. He paused at the door when he noticed a paper laying on the floor that had been pushed underneath the door. Avery picked it up and read it. So... Awen left... who are Chubbs and Jamal? I guess I'll have to ask around today so I can pass on the message...

Avery made his way to the cafeteria, and he noticed Rex as soon as he was inside. "Hey, Rex!" he walked over to him. He didn't notice the changes at first. They were too minor to be noticed right away... he stopped when he got to Rex's table, and raised his eyebrows at him. "Wow, what happened - forget to shave this morning?" he chuckled.

Rex took his seat (wary of his tail) and was just about to pray when he heard his name, Avery. Rex was unsure as to how Avery would react when he found out Rex had permanently joined the ranks of the islanders, and he appeared to be in such a good mood too! "Good morning, Avery!"

He chuckled a little at the shaving comment, but figured it was best just to tell him outright. "Heh, do I really look that bad? Avery," he paused, rubbing his beard while trying to find the best way to break the news. But his mouth just blurted, "I changed." He fiddled with his fork, scratching the surface of his meat slab longingly. He hated to put a damper on a fresh morning.

Avery smile fell when Rex said he changed. Surely, he meant something else, other than... that. But no, what else could it be? Avery couldn't help but notice the sharp claws in place of nails on Rex's hands, now, when Rex rubbed his beard. "You..."

Avery didn't know what to say.

He sat down heavily in the seat across from Rex, staring at him. He couldn't believe it. This must mean he was going to change, too... but when? And into what..?

"I'm... so sorry," he whispered, tears filling his eyes. "You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me. This is my fault... I'm really sorry..."

Rex smiled, trying to get across that it wasn't that bad. Rex liked it...

He saw the tears well up in Avery's eyes and Rex got out of his seat, running to the other side of the long tablet, quickly. He pulled up the seat next to the boy and threw a paw on across his shoulder. "No no! Don't appologize!" He'd cried several times all ready that morning and wasn't sure he had any more tears in him to pour from his outlined eyes. "It's not your fault, trust me, it's reall not your fault." He rubbed Avery's back affectionately, trying to comfort him.

How could he make it seem better? "But hey! It's a cool animal, really! We think that it could be a lion!" Showing Avery his tail to proove it may have been a bit much for the guy at that moment, so he decided to hold off showing the details until he knew Avery was in better control of himself. Instead he smiled, pulling his plate over to his side from across the table.

It was such a nice morning, Billy reflected as he sauntered into the cafeteria. He had already had his... 'breakfast', but figured he should get something to eat. For some reason, lately, he'd been starving for seafood. Fish for breakfast? The tables were fairly empty, save for two islanders he hadn't met yet sitting off to the side. After examining the food they had to offer, he was suprised at how the clam bar seemed so... appetizing, even at this time of day. He helped himself to a stack of sushi and other various fishy products befor sauntering towards the two at the table.

The one with the long blonde hair and blue tips caught his eye first. A little masculan, but definatly one fine lassy. He set his tray down and slipped into a seat without so much of a word asking for permission, grinning widely at the handsome young woman, "I don' think we've met!" He beamed at the both of them.

"Of course it's my fault! If those guys didn't want to kick my a**... if I hadn't fallen over board... then I wouldn't have needed help, so you wouldn't have jumped overboard too..." Avery sniffed miserably. He felt like he cried at least once every day since he got on this damned island. It was embarrassing - everyone was going to think he was a sissy.

Which, he kind of was... but he didn't want everyone thinking that.

Avery looked up when someone else approached the table he and Rex were sitting at. Oh, great - Avery was making another bad first impression. He rubbed his eyes, trying to stop crying. "Um... hello," he said. "I'm Avery..."

"No.." Rex thought, thinking back to all of the islanders he'd met so far, "I don't think that we have." He took his hand from Avery's back and motioned to the seat he was sitting in moments before. "I'm Rex." He smiled friendlily, extending a hand in greeting.

He turned his attention back to Avery, holding back his sobs, "Don't tell yourself that, you even said yourself that it started with those guys, not you." He bowed his head and rubbed his cross necklace in silent prayer, then tucked the gold chain back in his shirt and began to cut his steak.

Billy eyed the gold as he lifted a piece of fish to his mouth, grinning as he chewed, "Havin' some trouble are we?" He snickered. "An' wha's a pretty lass li' yerself findin' trouble fer?" He leaned in towards Avery with a sly look.

Avery calmed down enough to stop his crying, and he borrowed one of Rex's napkins to dry his eyes. "I guess... but..." Avery trailed off, and shrugged. He didn't want to talk about what happened on the boat in front of this new comer. He didn't know what he was like.

Did he just call me a pretty lass!? Avery thought, looking up at Billy. "Um, just some people I ran into on a cruise liner... I don't really want to talk about it, though," he mumbled.

He figured that this other strange man had all ready been introduced to the freakish things that happened on this island, or he was just really unobservant and didn't notice Rex's fangs and fur... or his handshake. Rex pulled his hand back and continued to mangle his steak when he realized the other person didn't say his name, "What was your name?" Man, he must be out of it..

Rex nearly choked on his breakfast when Billy called Avery a lass, but he was stupid enough to have made the same mistake back when they washed up. But he just chewed and smiled inwardly, "Yeah... I just changed a few hours ago and... well, it's rough." This new guy did know about the transformations... right?

"Tha's nice," Billy didn't seem interested in what the newly changed Rex had to say, eyes locked on Avery with a malicious glint and a questionable grin, undoubtably thinking about what he imagined under Avery's shirt. "Aww, Some men don' know how t'treat a lady."

Avery tried not to laugh. This certainly wasn't the first time someone has mistaken him for a girl... now to decide how to handle it; tell him the truth, or let him think he was a girl for a while longer? He eyed the new guy, wondering if he could take a joke or not. After all, he didn't want a repeat incident from what happened on the ship...

"Uhm... I hate to break it to you, but... I'm no 'lady'," he grinned.

Rex chewed his steak in silence, a smile curling at his lips. This fellow was paying zero attention to him and hitting on Avery! Rex didn't even care that the guy was shutting him out, this moment was just too priceless.

Billy's grin widened playfully, "Oh? Naughty gel, are we?" He snickered cluelessly.

Avery couldn't help himself now. This was too much fun, and far too amusing. Even if this guy was a bit... sleazy looking. "Oh, yeah, real naughty alright. I bet you'd like to have a peek down my shirt, huh?" Avery leered at him. Don't laugh... don't laugh...

Rex was biting his tounge so hard trying to hold back his laughter, though he doubted Billy even noticed he was laughing. Rex wouldn't be surprised if his tounge was bleeding from his big, sharp new teeth, but he had to let Avery have his fun. This was going to be funny.

"Oooh, frisky are we?" Billy snickered, reaching forward to cast a good grope, but frowned when his hand felt nothing. Flat. "No' very well endowed are we?"

Avery laughed, then. He thought this guy would realize after he groped him... but apparently not. Avery wondered how long he could keep this little game up. "Nope, but I've got the skills to make up for it," he winked at him. "So what's your name, baby?"

Oh.. my.. gosh.. this guy is absolutely clueless! Rex ate his breakfast without saying a word, hoping the chewing would supress his smile. He decided to get in on the fun, "Yeah, she sure does." Rex winked at the stranger then knocked his towards Avery, gesturing for him to go for it, then took another bite of steak.

"Oh aye?" Billy was feeling uneasy. There must have been something he was missing, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He blamed the drugs. "Maybe ye'll have t'show me sometime," He winked, leaning back to munch on his sushi breakfast.

"Mmm... we'll see," Avery said, licking his lips suggestively. "For now, though, I think I'm going to eat breakfast." He stood up and walked over to the bar, making sure to put a little sway to his hips. When he stopped at the bar, he had to cover his mouth to muffle his snickering. Oh my god... I am going to have so much fun with this.

Unlike Billy and Rex, he helped himself to a more traditional breakfast; pancakes, eggs, some sausage, and a glass of orange juice. He grabbed some silverware and some napkins before coming back to the table, sitting back down next to Rex. "So," Avery began, looking at Billy. "You still haven't mentioned your name..."

Rex continued to giggle away without making a commotion. Noticing the extra swagger in Avery's step. He just shook his head and looked down to his plate, how long would this last?!

Popping another bite in his mouth, Rex swallowed and noticed Billy's odd choice of food. Ahh.. another fish? Maybe an eagle? Or maybe he just had an odd taste of breakfast food. Rex could relate, he'd had pizza for breakfast more than once. But instead of bringing up animals, Rex tagged onto Avery, "Yeah, you never answered me before."

"Th'names William," He leaned back in his chair, eating the fish off of the rice, "Friends call me Billy." He gave another clueless grin. Ah well, at least these folks weren't shreading his skin or kicking him in tender places.

"Oh, you won't mind if I call you Billy then, do you?" Avery smiled sweetly before he started cutting up his pancakes. He cast a glance at Rex, hiding a grin as he took a bite.

Rex caught the glance and almost burst out laughing, but held it in by biting his tounge even harder. This was just too rediculous...

"Brilliant," Billy grinned, finishing up his meal, "Avery... an'... Ron was it?" He glanced to Rex, as though aknowladging him for the first time.

This guy sure is something else... "So how long have you been on this island?" Avery asked, only just now noticing that Billy had no appearance of being changed... yet. He'd been too caught up in teasing the guy to think about it.

"Rex." He repeated firmly so it stuck in Billy's mind. Though judging by how much attention he'd paid to Rex, he doubted it would stick. Normally, people didn't have trouble with his name because of it's bold connotation. But he understood if people got it wrong, it was a little obscure. But then it dawned on him, he hadn't told anyone here on the island his real name yet. Rex was a fine name and he hadn't had any purpose to tell them his birthname, but he still felt like he was keeping a secret from the people he'd be spending his life with... or at least until Awen made it to shore.

"Ach, jes' a few days," Billy didn't think it was important to share exactly *why* he was there. Somehow, that didn't seem like a good way to make friends. He beamed at the two of them in a friendly manner, "How abou' you two?"

Avery glanced nervously at Rex. Does he know about the island..? Avery knew that he didn't want to be the one to break the news to Billy, so he kept quiet about that. "I'm not really sure, actually..." he murmured. "It's been a while, though. It feels like forever."

Rex was troubled by Billy's answer as well. There he was, sitting before a lion-man, yet didn't drop a single hint as to whether he'd known about the purpose of this prison. Maybe Rex's changes weren't as drastic as they'd been in the mirror earlier that morning.

Rex glanced back to Avery warily, then added to the conversation. "Yeah, we've only been here a few weeks. But it doesn't look like we're going to be leaving any time soon..." He trailed off on the end, hoping this would usher some information out of the mysterious man.

"Oh? Wha' makes y'think tha'?" He grinned. The two didn't look like refugees to him. The boy, Rex, was a bit peculiar looking, yes, but he tried not to be judgemental.

"Well..." Avery bit his lip. "It's just, we've met other islanders who have been here for months... even though they don't want to stay. No one is allowed off the island... we're all stuck."

Rex nodded in confirmation of Avery's point. Like Amaya... Outside his duplex that morning she'd said she'd been here for seven months. Rex looked at his ex-hand, now paw, and wondered how long it would be until he, too, looked as far along as the poor girl.

Avery did a good job manipulating his words to let Billy down easily since he seemed to be new to the island, "Yeah.. theres.. theres no way off. The doctors won't let you leave, for, well, obvious reason." Obvious to everyone but you, aparently.

"Ach, well, aint tha'a shame? Stuck in a tropical paridise wit' free room an' board an' food," Billy snickered, his meal done. He sniffed nerviously, starting to get antsy. Another little sniff would do it. Get his buzz back. His thoughts were locked on the stash hidden away safe in his room.

Avery decided to decline to comment on Billy's remark, instead working on finishing his breakfast. "Anyway," he said, wanting to change the subject. "There are some people I need to talk to today... so, I think I'll be heading out." Avery stood up, taking care of his plate and silverware. "I'll see you later Rex," he smiled, and then looked at Billy, playing the game again. "And... I do hope I'll see you later, as well." He blew a kiss to Billy before sauntering out of the cafeteria.

Once he was near the duplexes again and well out of earshot from the cafeteria, he could no longer hold back and nearly fell over with laughter.

Nice timing, Rex munched on the last piece of steak savagely, "I may as well be off, too." He stood up with his plate and headed towards the kitchen. But first he walked especially close to the seated Billy, hitting him "accidently" with his tail to see if he noticed.

He almost died of a giggle-fit in the kitchen, trying to make it as quiet as possible. The game had become too much to bear, and Avery played the part amazingly. "Catch y'later, Billy." And with that, left the cafeteria as well.

Billy swatted the tail away. More bloody stupid costumes. Ah well, he was finished eating as well. And was getting... peckish in other ways. He sniffed again, depositing his tray befor swaggering back in the direction of his duplex.

Oblivious to the prank set up for him, Billy hurried to unlock his door. His hands were already trembling as he bustled in, first to the baggy he kept in his nearly empty sock drawer. He smiled when he found it, striding back to take a seat on his bed opposite the bedside table where he masterfully began setting up his lines. One aught to do it for now. Got to make it last, afterall.

He pulled out the straw he had swiped from the cafeteria, leaning down to do the deed- only to roll back with a shreik of pain! His nostrils were on fire! His throat burning far worse than normal, and he had a quick flashback to the detergant incident. At least at that time he had had a buffer of alchohol to ease the pain.

"BLOODY FECKIN MARY MOTHER O' GOD!" He shreiked, befor scrambling towards the bathroom, but it was too late. He felt his insides churn, not at all pleased by the soap he had just ingested, and quickly dumped his tastey fish breakfast on his nice rug.

It was a while befor he managed to sit up again, his head reeling, and his nose bleeding and... bubbling. He crawled back towards the powder on the table, tentitively taking a pinch to rub on his gum. IT WAS! SOAP! With a growl, he hurried to the bag he had hid behind his bed, repeating the test. FECKING FLOWER! Enraged, now, he checked his various other hiding spots, including behind a tile of the drop ceiling above his dresser. But it was definatly something akin to sugar.

His breathing quickened, his eyes wide and trembling, hands balling into fists befor he groped for his knife. That... feckin'... b***h. It HAD to be her!! He fumed towards the door, storming outside to find his stash. Who ever had it was DEFINATLY not going to be very happy.

Suddenly, there was the sound of storming footsteps befor Billy's voice could be heard booming across the cafeteria, "THERE Y'ARE Y'FECKIN' HAIRY b***h!"

Antony was about to respond, when an accented angry voice caused her to jump somewhat in surprise. "Well if it isn't the resident cokehead?" She sneered, though she looked on edge. Maybe it was the squirrel, or maybe she was really scared of Billy. One could only guess.

Chert looked up, slightly startled at the unexpected shout. The man appeared to be human, if you were using the term loosely. "Who the hell are you?"

Billy ignored CHert, stalking towards Antony with an enraged expression, his eyes narrowed, his face pale and sweaty and his teeth bared. All day he had been hunting for his stolen belongings, and all day he had come up with naught. "I *know* y'know where it is! GIVE IT TO ME!" He snarled, kicking a chair noisily away from the table as he reached to grab her shirt.

Antony darted out of reach in the nick of time, but didn't have time to think how she did it. Her tails bristled and her own eyes narrowed, "Know where what is?!"

Secretly, she took pleasure in his condition.

Billy's sudden and violent movement caused Chert to surge to his feet. He didn't do anything else but stand, although judging from the deepening frown on his face, that could change.

"I don' know how y'did it, bu' I know y'did!!" Billy spat, lunging towards her again, his face still contorted with anger and illness. "IT AINT FUNNY! An' y'KNOW DAMN WELL WHA' I'M TALKIN' ABOU'!!"

"I haven't taken anything from your tweaked a**!" She retorted while scampering out of reach again, instinctively searching around for a tree to flee up. The squirrel in her head was absolutely freaking out, but she... She was not scared of the scum bag.

Did what? Chert wondered. He shifted uneasily, unsure of what to do. The last time he'd lashed out at someone, nothing good had happened.

Once again, the enraged druggy lunged for her, this time managing to grab a hold of her arm befor she could completely slip away, swinging her around to slam her against the table, one hand squeezing about her throat as the other dug into his pants to produce his usually well conceiled switchblade. "Ye'll. Tell. Me. Where. It. Is. Or I'll cut yer' feckin' tattooed t'roat," He hissed, eyes wild and his face reddened. His hands were visibly shaking, although his grip was like iron on her neck, no doubt leaving bruses.

Antony moved to dodge, but thanks to the squirrel and the goddamn trees, he caught her arm. A pained noise that sounded something like a grunt escaped from her lips when she was slammed into the table, and then she couldn't breathe.

Her eyes went wide and she weezed painfully, clawed hand instinctively wrapping around his wrist in attempts to pull herself free. When she felt the blade at her neck, the tattooed woman froze, afraid to even swallow due to how much he was shaking.

"I don't... have... it..." she managed to gasp out quietly, trying still to pull back from the knife.

The squirrel was scared, but Antony was furious, and her eyes showed both emotions raging inside her.

The sight of the knife at Antony's neck was enough to goad Chert into action. He lunged at the druggy, attempting to hook his arms beneath the other's armpits and then lace his hands together behind Billy's head. He wasn't exactly sure how well a full nelson would work on an armed man, but hopefully the pain of having someone viciously wrench Billy's head down towards his chest would distract the druggie long enough for Antony to get away.

"This island is crawling with ******** lunatics!" Chert howled, wondering if the next thing he felt would be the cold kiss of a knife.

Billy gave an unintelligable howl, slashing the blade blindly about, thankfully hitting nothing but air as he was wrenched back. "LEMME GO!" He roared, "GERROFF YE FECKIN' b*****d THIS AINT GOT NOTHIN' T'DO WIT' YE!!"

Air wooshed into her lungs as she gulped it in greedily, coughing as her hand went to cradle her neck. Snarling she managed to keep a hold on the wrist with the knife, bending it back and digging her claws into his flesh as she moved into him again, eyes blazing. Moments later, Antony's knee was once again plowing into Billy's crotch. Though this time, she was much much more pissed off.

"I don't have your ******** stash," she sneered before letting go and backing up away from the two men, giving Chert a thankful look as she rubbed her neck with a wince.

Chert could feel the impact of Antony's knee from his position, and he had to fight to keep his eyes from watering in sympathy. Jesus. If he ever planned on having children, maybe he ought to make sure and stay on her good side. Still, it was good she'd stepped in- getting ahold of someone was the easy part. Left to his own devices, Chert didn't know what he would have done after that. Knife fights weren't a normal part of his everday activities.

He figured it was probably alright to let go of Billy, so he released his hold on the man and stepped away. Chert returned Antony's look with a small, lop-sided grin that seemed to say, Sure, but what the hell just happened?

Billy gave a high, pained noise, crumpling into a ball as tears slid down his face from the pain. DAMMIT! That... stupid... He couldn't think straight, his head spinning from the pain. It wasn't fair! It wasn't FAIR! He had agreed to come here thinking it would be a vacation. A perminant vacation. An escape. but so far he had been kicked and mangled and confused and his one source of relief taken from him. He KNEW she had been behind it. She had to have been! Who else would have done it? He couldn't think straight enough through the throbbing pain in his sensitive area, resigning himself to just concentrate on breathing again.

Staying on Antony's good side was generally a good idea. She had a long memory and held grudges.

Either way, she continued to try and get control of her breathing again, chest heaving while an ugly looking bruise formed on her neck in the shape of a hand. Her tails still looked like pipe cleaners from the entire ordeal, the squirrel still utterly freaking out.

Tree. Tree! TREE!

She did have half a mind to kick the knife away from him after catching Chert's gaze. The lopsided grin calmed her nerves down some, and Antony quickly caught his wrist loosely before heading out of the cafeteria. "We need to go," she rasped painfully.

The tattooed woman needed to get away from Billy before she killed him.

Chert followed her without complaint, mentally slapping his forehead as he went. Right, Chert, leave the crazy man's knife within reach. Brilliant. He cast one more paranoid scowl over his shoulder at Billy as they left, wanting to make sure he'd memorized the drug addict's face. It would probably be best to steer clear of him in the future. Somehow Chert was sure he'd failed to make a new friend.

"Are you alright?" he asked Antony as they left the building. The strangely shaped marks on her neck looked painfully livid, and the fur on her tails was bristled out in all directions.

It was an odd feeling, gaining insight into someone's emotional state through their tails.

It was a while befor Billy managed to pull himself back up to his feet, slumping into a chair as he burried his face in his hands. Stupid. Stupid stupid. He just wanted his... it was only fair that he... he hadn't really... it wasn't his fault! None of this was his fault! He hissed through his teeth, trembling again with his growing illness. He'd find it. Just stay calm. She didn't have it. He could have sworn she'd have it, but she didn't have it.

Right.

So. Who DID have it? How did they get into his duplex? Pick the lock? He hadn't noticed any markings on the knob when he had gone in. Someone must have an extra key. Had the doctor himself taken it away? No, he was pretty sure the Doctor knew what Billy had carried with him onto the island.

Then WHO??

Who else seemed to hate him on this God forsaken island?

His wrists were stinging where Antony's claws had upset his bandages. He stared down at his older wounds, exposed by the scuffle. And it hit him.

Joli.

That little pock-marked b***h.

Ambrose carried Angelina into the entertainment room, and proceeded to make her as comfortable as possible despite her building fever and obvious discomfort.

After stacking the coffee table with food and taking the courage to fetch a few general books on mammals, he tossed a light Romantic Comedy into the DVD player and settled onto the couch next to her, flipping through the book.

Pyroth had advised they waited, and so Billy had waited. And waited. Yet no sign came of the owner of the duplex in question coming or going, and he needed to take a walk to clear his head. His nervious twitch had grown conciderably, his hands unable to stay still, his face positively green and dripping with sweat as he wandered the village, finally sneaking into a room he'd never been in befor.

There were people already there, to his chagrin. The last thing he wanted just then was to talk to people. He wanted his stash, damn it! He was starving! He was dying! Three days, had it been? Two? He couldn't tell anymore. The chairs looked inviting, though, and he slipped towards them without meeting the eyes of the other occupants. Maybe if he ignored them, they'd ignore him back.

Angelina glanced up as someone came into the room. Despite the fact she looked a bit feverish, the small young woman looked otherwise completely human.

Wow, this guy looked sicker than her. She gave a glance to Ambrose, hoping he knew him so he could make an introduction.

The smell of the new arrival caught his attention more than even the door's opening. There was the salty smell of sweat and... other scents that Ambrose couldn't even begin to label. A look of distaste crossed his face as he turned around. Ambrose was familiar with people judging people based on looks alone - the clothes they wore, the way they styled their hair. Scent was a new one. And yet, it certainly seemed to match with the bedraggled man that pulled himself into the room. An ear flicked back.

He glanced between the opening of "Pretty Woman" playing on the VCR and the guy who looked like he had just walked out of a drug smuggler firefight with hesitance. he had been hoping for some privacy with Angelina - not that the door locked - or at least something pleasant to keep her mind off of the illness and her impending change.

He caught her asking glance and shook his head in response. He had never seen the individual before. Another new arrival, he judged based on the lack of inhuman features - unless one counted scuzzy stubble and a pungent aroma.

He still hadn't found 'genets' in the book yet, either, and continued to idly flip pages. He knew the index would take him there, but something about such quick finality that led him to passively skimming the pages.

They weren't talking to him. Good. Billy glanced at the television, only mildly amused by what he saw there as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. His shaking hands proved difficult, scattering the sticks about his lap and he grunted, shoving them away again clumsily. That done, he dug into his pocket again in search of his lighter, managing to start his cigarette after only the third try.

The cigarette gave only mild relief as he let himself dissappear in a cloud of his own smoke. "Ach, tha's a bi' better..." He murmured mostly to himself.

Angelina crinkled her nose as he lit a cigarette. How rude, smoking in front of people without even asking if it would bother them. Angelina gave a subtle cough and a big sniffle, shifting around in her PJ's she was in in a not subtle display of 'can't you see I'm sick?'

She sighed and gave a simpering look up to her boyfriend.

Ambrose, even without the egging look for Angelina, was irritated by the cigarette smoke. He had never picked up the filthy habit and had always had no small measure of distaste for being in the presence of people smoking. With his new sense of smell, he soon realized that what had once been an annoyance was now a cloistering, aggravating and choking scent.

His ears flattened as he turned around to address the newcomer with an undisguised hint of annoyance. "I don't suppose you mind putting that out? My girlfriend is ill, and to be quite honest the smell isn't doing wonders for me either."

Billy didn't look up, huddled down into the chair as he huffed another puff of oily smoke into the air. "We all go' problems, lad," He grunted with a nervious sniff, rubbing his sweaty palms on his dark, faded jeans.

Angelina's eyes narrowed. "By the looks of it, you seem to have a lot of them. Hate to break it to you, but they're only going to get worse." She scoffed. "So if you insist on shortening your stay here with a good bout of lung cancer you can do it outside."

Ambrose was mildly surprised that Angelina spoke up. She had been so withdrawn the past few days with the exception of the run-in with Colche. It almost brought a smile to his face if it weren't for the a** in the back row.

"Given that they mentioned our chances of cancer is increased with these 'treatments'..." Ambrose muttered in agreeance with Angelina. Whether or not that was what Aubrey had said specifically, the fact they were undergoing intensive gene modification raised warning flags in the man's head to health dangers. He didn't want to make that any more likely if he could help it. And over a foul-smelling death-stick no less.

"I would have to agree wtih the lady." He finished. "Not trying to say you can't smoke. Have a blast, but we're watching a movie and it is rather... irritating."

"Jes' another bit o' incivility on this God Damned sesspit!" Billy snapped suddenly, standing fiercely as he stormed towards them, smoke curling about his face like a chimney. "Y'want me t'go ou'side? Stand alone in th'dark since I aint part o' yer feckin' Posh freakshow Clique?" He snarled, mashing the cigarette down on the arm of the sofa, putting it out and taking a small circle of the apolstery with it. His drug-deprived brain rumbled and twitched and flailed, screaming for a little something to keep it's chemicals under control. Thinking clearly. "An' I'm feckin' sick O' these God Damned costumes!!" His hand swept forward to grab the wolf man's ear sharply.

"HEY!" Angelina cried angrily as the man took hold of Ambrose's ear. She was not in the mood for this. The fiery little woman reached back and slapped him square across the face. "Leave him alone, a*****e!"

Ambrose gave a sighing growl as Billy fumed. "This has nothing to do with changing or 'freakshow' or anything like that! It's common decency to at least ask before lighting up in the middle of a movie room! They don't allow it in theaters for Chrissakes, for a reason. And you call me incivil?" Ambrose asked, boggled at the man's tantrum for asking him to put it out.

His eyes widened as he realized just how 'in the dark' the man was as he tugged - painfully - on his ear. "Ouch!" He yelped. His new, larger ears were rather sensitive (which could be a good thing sometimes....) but not when being tugged. To Billy, however, they seemed rather attached, and eerily warm to the touch - the fine fur very much a part of the fuzzy extremity.

"This isn't a cos-" He was cut off as Angelina whipped her hand across the skeeze's face. Apparently a lot of the quick temper of the small woman had resurfaced with his prodding.

"Whoa!" Ambrose said, caught somewhat offguard as he got to his feet in the hopes of preventing this from turning even nastier.

Billy blinked, bloodshot eyes wide at the shock of not only the slap, but the strangeness of the ears as well. "Wha'.." He started, blinking a few times befor the moodswings of his withdrawl swept him into a recoil, his hands furrowing into fists as he whipped an arm back to swing at Ambrose's face-

"Oh Great" Ambrose let out quickly as he realized just how much of a ball of anger this small man was and how quickly this was going to turn nasty unless he did something.

The last thing he wanted was Angelina to join in to potentially get hurt. Not that he didn't think she could take care of herself - but this man rubbed him the wrong way, and she was sick.

Ambrose had been in enough fencing matches to train his eyes for body signals before a strike - even when his opponent was wearing a mask. When the already addled man pulled his arm back with a wide-eyed look it was more than enough telegraphing to see the impending punch.

But instead of stepping back and potentially making Angelina get hit, he stepped forward, bringing up his own arm to hopefully stop his at the bicep.

It was then that Angelina tackled him. It was like watching a bad sports play on slow motion. This wasn't going to be good.

He tried to seize the man's arms in tight grasps - his blunt rounded claws probably adding some inadvertant extra pressure. "Whoa! Whoa! No need to start fighting!" Ambrose spoke up, trying to play the peacemaker in what was likely already a situation beyond help.

Billy grabbed the young girl sharply, shoving her back towards Ambrose sharply, "WHA' TH'FECK ARE YE??" He roared, pointing a trembling finger at the grey and blonde monstrocity.

Angelina stumbled back, steadying herself on Ambrose. She glared daggers at the man, but kept quiet for now. Ambrose was a better peacemaker than she was by far.

Ambrose's hackles rose instinctually as Angelina was violently shoved. He could have sworn he could hear her wheazing. She was not in the state for this. He took a bold step, making himself a further boundary between the man and her girlfriend.

His ears moved on their own, laying flat against his skull as he tried to keep the snarl from his lips. But the words from his mouth hurt him more than the fist probably would have - though Ambrose would never admit it.

He frowned, but the pain crossed his eyes. "I'm a man. Despite appearances to the contrary. A prisoner if you like, just like all the other residents of this 'village.'" He said quietly, struggling to keep his voice even.

"Y'aint human!" Billy staggered backward, nearly tripping over another chair, his eyes wide as details slowly clicked into place in his drug-rattled mind.

Ambrose's jaw clenched, the muscle shift under the soft fur on his face evident - drawing another definate sign that this was no costume.

He had heard it before. He had pretty much come to accept that he would hear it again, but it still didn't seem to lessen the blow any. This is the reason that, even as much as he loathed being held here against his will, Ambrose didn't think he could ever really return to the 'real world' again. To hear someone like his father say words like those... he could never live with that.

"I used to be." Ambrose said, swallowing a frog in his throat, eyes pleading.

Billy snorted, his expression manic as he gave a nervious laugh, "Tha's rediculous! Yer'... yer' sayin'... they're sayin'... by "Changin'" ye lo' mean..." He stammered, his hand still raised and pointing, but wavering frantically. "Tha's impossible!!"

Ambrose took a hesitant step forward, holding his hands to him, empty and palm-forward. "C... calm down." Right. That was likely to happen. Ambrose sure as hell hadn't been calm when he found out.

"I know it is. believe me. I didn't believe it myself until well after it happened to me. And kudos if you want to pretend it's impossible. It might help things!" He glanced back to Angelina, who had been terrified of the looming certainty of her own imminent change. "But we're all .... well... together on this."

"No no no, tha's mad! Tha's physically impossible!!" Billy shook his head, "Unless I've gotten t'th'point where I've jes' los' me mind finally!"

"That's what I said too." He said, the sarcasm playing in his voice and face. "And unless we're all in a loony bin.... or some great Matrix movie, then it's real as far as I'm concerned. I sure as hell didn't imagine the pain of the transformation and how it felt to grow a bloody tail."

Almost as soon as he said it, Ambrose's winced, looking back to Angelina guiltily. He had been trying to downplay that part of it all. He had admitted it hurt, but .... not tried to go into great detail.

"So wha', li' is this some sor' o' cursed island?? Yer all turnin' into were- *animals*?" Billy replied in a high, paniced voice. "y'have t'understand tha's absolutely daft! Let alone scientifically impossible! Ye can't jes'... hop down the evolutionary ladder and then scurry back up where'st y'feel!"

Angelina cringed alittle at Ambrose's words and the sick feeling in her stomach turned. She had no idea how to talk to about this with someone, let alone try to break the news to someone knew. She climbed back onto the couch and folded her arms around her knees and sighed.

Ambrose hesitated a moment as he could smell Angelina's trepidation. He shot her an apologetic look, his confidence waning, feeling torn between the withdrawing Angelina and the increasinly elevating voice (and fear) of the man whom he had only met moments ago.

However, the newcomer's scene was difficult to ignore. His ears pressed harder against his head and he whet his lips, really trying to keep a level head.

Striking a sharp contrast, On the screen Julia Roberts, blissfully ignorant of the scene unfolding around the television, was thoroughly enjoying her shopping spree. But while the Cinderella was blossoming in a world that repreived her of the sordid past, Billy was finding himself in a punishment.

The wolfman before him grinding the reality of the situation that the lack of drugs revealed to him.

"There is no 'were' about it." Ambrose winced. "There is no 'going back' - at will or otherwise. From everything that has been indicated, there is no shapeshifting, no "getting better." Just worse." He had seen the people who had been dissuaded through lies only turn violent when the truth was revealed. But the longer they seemed to go without foreknowledge the worse it seemed to be. And Ambrose refused to cater to that.

Billy's mouth opened and closed a few times in a sputtering silence. He staggered backward again, shaking his head befor stumbling towards the door. This was madness! These people where insane! You can't just turn people into animals. Science doesn't work like that! There were all sorts of... complicated... complications in the way! And while Billy didn't understand even the begining of genetics, he knew it was a bit harder than a whim to grow a tail. He was not in the mood.

He wanted his stash back. And he wanted it now.

Billy got back to his duplex, feeling worse for the wear. He was sick. Sick sick sick sick. He couldn't eat. He'd never eat again. His stomach had a mind of its own. He lay down on the bed. He'd sleep it off. Sleep it off and he'd be fine. Sweat it out. Time to fast. He didn't want to! He had no choice.

Slowly, without even removing his shoes, Billy fell asleep on top of his bed.